Why Connor Cook may appreciate the NFL Draft slide

Why will Connor Cook appreciate his NFL Draft slide in the long run?

Considered a highly-valued NFL Draft prospect, Connor Cook’s drop to round four came as a surprise to many.

But the Spartan legend is no stranger to disrespect.

Throughout Michigan State Football’s current rise as a Big Ten powerhouse, meager expectations and even disregard for the program are so common they’ve become routine.

Annual predictions of the program’s decline aren’t letting up, but season-by-season the Spartans continue to show no sign of slowing down. Cook accomplished three remarkable seasons at Michigan State in the heart of this dark horse culture.

Whether personal expectations are high, low or non-existent, dropping this underdog mentality would be near impossible for Cook, or any other former Spartan.

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Cook is used to being underrated. Michigan State exceeded expectations every year he was a starter, finishing each season ranked higher than it did to start the year.

To begin Cook’s sophomore campaign in 2013, Michigan State was unranked and Cook was second string. The offense floundered its first couple games and, after a loss to Notre Dame, many assumed MSU was on its way to a mediocre season forced to rely on its defense. But Cook stepped up, earned the starting spot and starred throughout the rest of the season.

The offense rolled and the team won the remainder of its games to win the Big Ten Championship and Rose Bowl. He only got better, throwing for more than 3,200 yards both his junior and senior seasons, and finished his college career as Michigan State’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns.

Leading up to the draft a few NFL scouts criticized Cook’s personality, the notion spread and teams avoided him overlooking that what matters is winning.

Leadership doesn’t require a label or specific personal attributes. But it does involve making others better.

Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Connor Cook (18) drops back to pass against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second quarter in the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

Cook’s go-to receiver in 2014, Tony Lippett, led the Big Ten in receiving yards. After Lippett graduated, many predicted the new Spartan receiving corps to be feeble. Instead, Cook found his new go-to receiver in 2015: Aaron Burbridge, third in receiving the season before, and the Big Ten’s top receiver was a Spartan for a second consecutive year.

Fortunately, how high one is chosen in the draft eventually becomes irrelevant. As previous Spartan and current Denver Broncos receiver Bennie Fowler tweeted in support of his former quarterback, “The jersey is earned, never given.”

As the 100th pick, Cook can follow the path of former Spartan quarterback now NFL starter Kirk Cousins, who in the 2012 NFL Draft dropped to the Washington Redskins as the 102nd pick. Cousins began his career as a backup but succeeded as the Redskins starter last season, winning the NFC East.

The NFL leader among active quarterbacks in career passing yards and touchdowns went in the sixth round in 2000 after going 20-5 as a starter at the University of Michigan. After a phenomenal 34-5 career an hour drive away, Cook is now a pro quarterback in control of his own destiny.

Must Read: MSU Football: 10 underrated recruits turned NFL Draft picks

Cook continues alongside fellow Spartan Shilique Calhoun, whom the Raiders picked in round three.

Following the 2014 season, in which the Spartans went 11-2 but fell short of a Big Ten Championship after losing to Ohio State, Calhoun and Cook together deferred on leaving early for the NFL declaring they had “unfinished business.” They followed with another great season, this time beating Ohio State and reclaiming the conference title.

As Oakland Raiders the two remain teammates, now with much more business to get done.

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